Mr. T. (35 years old) and Ms. H. (33 years old, living in Ho Chi Minh City) have been infertile for 3 years without a clear cause even though they have been examined in many places and have had a doctor perform in vitro fertilization (IVF) to help them have a child.
The couple said that after getting married, there was no good news despite their normal health and regular relationships. They have proactively sought information and gone to many places for examination but the cause is unknown.
In August 2025, when they went to Tam Anh General Hospital for examination, MSc. Dr. Tran Ngoc Van Anh, Reproductive Support Center, said that Ms. H's ovarian reserve index reached 2.88 ng/ml, which is good, X-rays showed that the fallopian tube was still intact. Her husband did not notice any abnormalities.
Infertility of unknown cause accounts for about 10-30% of cases of infertility. It is not clear whether the cause means there is no cause, because current medicine cannot explain and screen for the causes of infertility in these cases. However, the longer the waiting period, the more likely to get pregnant naturally is reduced. After listening to the doctor's analysis, Ms. H and Mr. T decided to perform in vitro fertilization (IVF).
The doctor explained that for the natural conception process to be successful, every stage must be perfect. In this case, eggs and sperm - that is, "production materials" - are both good, so the problem may lie in the "production process". Specifically, the fallopian tubes may have dysfunction; the number, mobility and shape of sperm on the fallopian section are very good, but the possibility that sperm can penetrate the outer layer of the egg is still unknown... The doctor diagnosed infertility and advised in vitro fertilization (IVF).
The first time preparing the lining for Ms. H, the doctor discovered polyps in the uterus, the lining was not beautiful, this was a common cause of difficulty in the fetus to form a union, causing infertility. Ms. H was transferred a good enough embryo into a well-prepared uterus and spawned for the first time. The pregnancy is now more than 6 months old.
Infertility is a condition in which a couple cannot conceive after 1 year of regular sex, without using birth control measures (or 6 months for women over 35 years old), and tests to find the cause of infertility give normal results.
The doctor will conclude that a couple with infertility after having fully performed paraclinical diagnoses, with the wife being checked for regular menstrual cycles, hormonal tests, ultrasounds showing normal egg development and loss, the uterus has a normal structure, no fibroids, polyps or birth defects that hinder the union of the embryo.
A video X-ray of the fallopian tubes (HSG) showed that both fallopian tubes were smooth and unclogged. AMH and secondary follicular count on ultrasound are normal compared to age.
For husbands, the results of the seminiferous analysis will be based on the results showing that the quantity, density, mobility and shape of sperm are all within the normal limits according to WHO standards.
Although it is not possible to determine by basic tests, experts say that infertility can stem from problems such as eggs or sperm with genetic abnormalities that are not detected by normal testing.
Treatment for infertile couples often includes lifestyle changes, ovarian and contractile stimulation, sperm in the uterine cavity (IUI) or IVF.
